Article for playing games with the blind



H. S. LANSING ARTICLE FOR PLAYING GAMES WITH THE BLIND Filed May 25, 1956 All EN TOR AERBERTJT [ANSI/VG.

-1BYM ATTORNEY Jan. 29, 1957 Q m??? t QM O O 2 o United States Patent ARTICLE FOR PLAYING GAMES WITH THE BLIND Herbert S. Lansing, San Pablo, Calif. Application May 23,1956, Serial No. 586,863

2 Claims. or. 273-143 This invention relates to a new device for playing games with blind persons, and particularly to games played on a game board with movable pieces.

At the present time there is no satisfactory way for a sighted child to play games with a blind child where the games involve a game board with movable pieces and have them compete on a substantially equal basis. It is part of the training of blind children and blind people generally, to accept as well as recognize their physical deficiency by having as much contact as possible with sighted persons in their normal pursuits. It is in this manner that blind persons are able to recognize the normal pursuits of those without physical deficiencies and to follow them as best they can. The blind person is less self-conscious and fits better into the normal social pattern.

The competitive recreation of a blind person is extremely limited and it is in this particular field that the invention here disclosed has been tried and found eminently satisfactory. By the use of the present invention, it is now possible for sighted and blind persons to engage in a mild form of competitive recreation, substantially on an equal basis, and this, of course, has been an object of the invention.

In addition, the invention provides a means of recreation extending the limited means heretofore available for the blind and extending the same in a manner where it is possible for blind and sighted persons to play together.

Another object is to provide an article for the competitive playing of a game by blind and sighted players, but which may be adapted to the playing of several games merely by changing the spools or by changing the surface covering of the cylindrical portion of the spool.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, economy, and ease of manufacture, also such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will fully appear and as are inherently possessed by the device and the invention described herein.

Invention further resides in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and while there is shown therein a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that the same is merely illustrative of the invention and that the invention is capable of modification and change, and comprehends other details of construction without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a top plan view of the article used for playing competitive games with blind persons.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line II-Il of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary, perspective view of the spool portion of the article shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a plan view showing a game board for playing the game of baseball with movable figures, moved 2,779,599 Patented Jan. 29, 1957 in response to the operation of the article shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown in Figures 1 and 2 thereof an article which provides the means for playing competitive games with blind persons, where they compete with sighted persons as substantial equais. The device consists of a cylinder 19 secured to solid circular end members 11 to form a spool. The spool is mounted for rotation on its longitudinal axis 12 by end supports 14. The end supports are mounted on a base 15 which is wide enough and long enough not to be easily moved or upset by the spinning of the spool.

At one end of the cylinder 10 are twin rows of raised buttons 16 symmetrically and equidistantly arranged around the entire circumference. Round headed tacks or brads may be used to provide the buttons which must be raised sufliciently above the surface of cylinder 10 to accomplish the purposes hereinafter described. The buttons 16 are arranged in parallel pairs, spaced longitudinally only a short distance apart, as clearly shown in Figure 3. On the surface of the cylinder 10 and on each longitudinal line passing through each pair of buttons 16, the longtudinal distance is divided into two parts or areas 17 and 13. On one side is the printed area 18 bearing printed numbers and results 20 and Z1, respectively. This portion, of course, is for use by the sighted player. In the Braille area 17 there are corresponding numbers ssaand result Zia in the typical raised charactors of Braille. These, of course, are the corresponding information for the blind person, and are identical with the printed material for the sighted person.

A small rotating wheel or caster 23 is mounted on the base 15 forfree rotation on its U-shape support 24. The diameter of the wheel or caster 23 is such that when it is mounted in its proper location with respect to the buttons 16, as shown in Figure 1, its rotation will stop when bearing tangentially against two pairs of buttons 16, as shown in Figure 2 and in no other position. To secure the proper tension or pressure on the wheel 23 against the buttons 16, the Ushaped mounting 24 for the wheel 23 has a resilient mounting 21: on the inner side and is spring biased on the outside by springs 27 which urge the wheel against the buttons. The limiting of the activity of the spring and hence the pressure of the wheel 2! on the buttons 16 may be accomplished by the nut 28. It will be apparent from this disclosure and description that by rotating the spool clockwise by hand on either of the end members iii, a brief free-spinning will be accomplished against the resistance of the pressure of wheel 23, which will ultimately bring the spool to a stop in the position shown in Figure 2. The tension and the contact of the wheel 23 is such as to always bring it to a stop in the position shown in Figure 2.

Mounted along the rearward longitudinal edge of the base 15 is a shield 30. The shield 30 is mounted, of course, in any suitable manner along the rear edge, such as by screws 31, and extends upwardly, curving over the cylinder 1i and between the end members 11, extending slightly beyond the vertical axis of the cylinder. The shield 39 extends to a point between a pair of buttons 16 so that one line of buttons 16, Braille: 21a and printing 21 is completely available below its leading edge 32. In this manner, when the cylinder 10 is rotated and spun freely in the manner described, it ultimately comes to rest in the manner described, through the tension and friction of wheel 23. A single line of printed results and corresponding Braille results will be exposed beneath the forward edge 32 of the shield 30.

In Figure 4 there is shown a typical game board for the game of baseball with holes 35 therein in the characteristic positions for the several players and officials. The bases 36 are indicated by raised blocks, clearly ing edge 32 of the shield 30-.

visible by the sighted player and equally apparent to. the blind player. Suitable figures (not shown) of players and ofiicials may be placed in the holes 35 in the board so that both the sighted player and the blind player may each know the precise location of the players and the con; dition of'theat 'bat team at any particular moment in the play.

In playing the game, the players rotate the cylinder 1%) by means of'end wheels lil, spinning the wheel freely and allowing it to come to stop by chance in the manner and in the position heretofore described, so that a single line of both'printing and'B-raille is exposed beneath the lead- The single line of Braille 21a and type 21. indicate the instructions or the nature of the next move for playing-the game; The playing and the scoring-are in response to information and result 21 and 21a of consecutive spinnings of the spool. The figures or the menflare moved as indicated thereby. in this manner, both the blind player and the sighted player have equal opportunities 'in playing the game and in receiving the instructions, as well as moving'the players in response to the instructions obtained by the chance rotation of the cylinder 10.

While the operation and use of the article have been explained in connection with the game of baseball, it is clear that by changing the instructions on the periphery of the cylinder 10, or by merely changing spools, any game may be played with the competition equal between the sighted player and the blind player.

1 claim:

1. An article for competitive playing of games between blind and sighted players comprising in combination a free spinning spoolhaving a uniform cylindrical shape betweenthe ends thereof, said spool being mounted for rotation on its horizontalaxis, end members and a base member for mounting said spool, pairs of raised buttons arranged equidistant around the circumference of the cylindrical portion of said spool, each of said pairs of buttons representing a potential stop position, identical 4. instructions and results -in' Braille-and in printingat each potential stop position, resiliently mounted wheel means bearing against said buttons causing'friction during" the spinning to bring the rotation to a stop in the same relative position with respect to said buttons at each stopping, and a shield covering most of the available cylindrical area designating the precise information and result to be followed at any random stop.

2. An article for competitive-playing of board games with'movable piecesbetween-blind and sighted players comprising in combination a free spinning spool having a uniform cylindrical shape between the endsthereof, said spool being mountedfor rotation on its horizontal axis, end members and a base member for mounting said spool, pairs of raised buttonsarranged equidistant around the circumference of the cylindrical portion of said spool, each of said pairs of buttons representing a potential stop position, identical instructions and results in Braille and in printing at each potential stop position, resiliently mounted wheel means bearing against said buttons ,causing.

friction during. the spinning to bring the rotation to a stop in the same relative position with respect to said' buttons-at eachstopping, means for adjusting bearing pressure of said resilientlyv mountedwheel, and a shield coveringniostof the available cylindrical area designating the precise information and-result to be followed at any random stop.

References" Cited .in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

